Blue Devils Take Series with Seven-Run Fifth

Sunday, April 3

Atlanta, Ga.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Georgia Tech

Blue Devils Take Series with Seven-Run Fifth

4/3/2016 5:21:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Duke Sports Information

ATLANTA – Duke totaled eight of its nine hits in a seven-run fifth and won the series over No. 21 Georgia Tech with a 10-4 decision Sunday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium. The series win marked the Blue Devils first against Georgia Tech in Atlanta since 2000 as well as Duke's first road series victory over a ranked team since upsetting then-No. 24 Miami March 8-10, 2015 in Coral Gables, Fla.

Freshmen Chris Proctor and Zack Kone contributed two hits each while sophomores Jack Labosky and Justin Bellinger reached base in six of their combined 10 plate appearances. Proctor knocked in two RBI and Kone added a career-best three. Labosky and Bellinger combined for five walks and three runs scored.

“Guys were trying to execute situationally,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “We kept having a runner on third and less than two. We weren't necessarily trying to get hits, but guys had good approaches. They were looking for pitches up. They were disciplined to get the pitch they were looking for and it turned into hits.”

Similar to the series' second game Saturday, Duke took an early lead. The Blue Devils did not have a second-inning hit, but Georgia Tech right-hander Keyton Gibson (2-2) walked three batters and hit another to aid the Duke offense. Freshman Zack Kone picked up his fourth RBI of the season on a fielder's choice to put the Blue Devils on top, 1-0.

Ryan Peurifoy sent a two-out RBI double to the right center gap in the bottom half, tying the game at one-all.

Georgia Tech held Duke hitless until the Blue Devils erupted for seven runs on eight fifth-inning hits against three Yellow Jacket pitchers. Herron and Proctor initiated the rally, contributing consecutive singles. Perez ripped a two-run double and Labosky's RBI base knock followed. Duke received three bases loaded singles – one each from Kone, Max Miller and Proctor – to increase its advantage to 8-1.

“Zack did a great job there with the bases loaded,” Pollard added. “He got a pitch up he could handle. The biggest hit in the inning was Chris Proctor's. If they get off the field and it's 6-1, it feels like the game's within striking distance. The base hit there to make it 8-1 was what we call a dagger.”

Gibson went four innings, allowing one hit and two runs while walking six and striking out a pair.

Duke right-hander Brian McAfee (4-2) cruised through the first five innings before encountering trouble in the sixth. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases. Georgia Tech scored a run on a passed ball prior to a Trevor Crapert RBI groundout. Peurifoy added an RBI single, narrowing Duke's overall advantage to 8-4.

McAfee struck out a season-high eight batters in the win. He pitched six innings, yielding four runs on seven hits and two walks.

“Brian pitched well. I thought he fatigued a little there in the sixth. Just got elevated a little bit. His breaking stuff was swing and miss quality. Struck out the side in the first and really kept them off balance. Until the sixth, he never really let them string anything together.

The Blue Devils benefitted from two Yellow Jacket errors in the ninth, adding a pair of insurance runs. Bellinger walked for the third time and Georgia Tech pitcher Bobby Gavreau threw the ball away on an Evan Dougherty bunt. Zack Kone beat out an RBI infield single that shortstop Connor Justus threw out of first baseman Tristin English's reach, allowing Dougherty to also score.

“That game was within striking distance. It was a very heads up play by Evan Dougherty to bunt in that situation and forced a hurry play.”

Labosky, Ryan Day and Mitch Stallings each tossed a scoreless inning in relief to preserve the victory.

“Just a great job by the pen. Three innings, two hits, no walks and four strikeouts to finish out the ballgame after we gave up the three-run sixth. Very impressive work by those three.

Duke is set for four games this coming week at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils play host to UNC Greensboro Tuesday, April 5 before welcoming Clemson for a three-game series Friday-Sunday, April 8-10.

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